Pho Xe Lua

• resultFail
• critical violations5
• last inspectedJuly 9, 2021
• address1021 W Argyle St, Chicago 60640

Is Pho Xe Lua clean?

Pho Xe Lua is currently Fail from Chicago Department of Public Health, from an inspection on July 9, 2021. Inspectors wrote up 5 critical violations — the kind most directly linked to foodborne illness. On Cooked's ladder that reads cooked 🪳.

What did inspectors find at Pho Xe Lua?

These are the violations recorded at the most recent inspection on July 9, 2021, in plain English, with the city's own wording underneath.

• 📋no certified food manager on dutycritical
  Person In Charge Present, Demonstrates Knowledge, And Performs Duties • THE PERSON IN CHARGE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION DOES NOT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO SANITATION CERTIFICATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. NO CITATION ISSUED
• 📋certified manager paperwork missingcritical
  City Of Chicago Food Service Sanitation Certificate • NO ORIGINAL AND VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE WAS POSTED NOR PROVIDED ON-SITE FOR THE PRESENT MANAGER ON DUTY. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. A LEAST ONE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE WHEN FOOD IS HANDLED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION: 7-38-012, CITATION ISSUED.
• 🤒sick-employee policy not followedcritical
  Management, Food Employee And Conditional Employee; Knowledge, Responsibilities And Reporting • NOTED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AT THIS TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ONE AT THE NEXT INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION:7-38-012(A). NO CITATION WAS ISSUED TODAY.
• 🤒staff working while sickcritical
  Procedures For Responding To Vomiting And Diarrheal Events • FOUND PROCEDURE/PLAN ON-SITE. HOWEVER, KIT IS NOT COMPLETE THE MISSING SOLUTION TO CONTROL NOROVIRUS FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO MAINTAIN ANY APPROPRIATE SUPPLIES ON SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED
• 🚰handwashing sink blocked or barecritical
  Adequate Handwashing Sinks Properly Supplied And Accessible • HANDWASHING SINK IN PREP AREAS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO HANDWASHING. HANDWASHING SINK IN THE KITCHEN COVERED WITH TRAYS AND UTENSILS AND IN FRONT A CART, THE OTHER SINKS HAD CLEANING AND UTENSILS ITEMS. THE HANDWASHING SINK MUST BE ACCESSIBLE TO HANDWASHING AT ALL TIMES FOR PROPER HANDWASHING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION:7-38-030(C), CITATION ISSUED.
• 🪳pests in the house
  Insects, Rodents, & Animals Not Present • INFESTATION OF RAT DROPPINGS IN DIFFERENT SPOTS OF PREP AREA: UNDER THE COOKING EQUIPMENT, BEHIND THE REACH-IN COOLERS, UNDER THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK AND HOT WATER TANK, BEHIND FRONT SERVING COFFEE COUNTER, ALSO RAT DROPPINGS AND GNAWED PLASTIC AT FOOD STORAGE, OVER 200 RAT DROPPINGS. AS I WAS POINTING OUT THE EVIDENCE OF DROPPINGS OWNER WAS SWEEPING THEM. WE OBSERVED OVER 20 SMALL MAGGOTS/LARVA UNDER A THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK AROUND THE GREASE TRAP. OBSERVED OVER 20 HOUSE FLIES ON-SITE THROUGHOUT THE PREP AND PREMISES. DISHROOM AND FOOD STORAGE AREA WITH SMALL FLIES OVER 40. REMOVE EVIDENCE OF RODENT DROPPINGS AND FLIES. CONTACT PEST CONTROL COMPANY AND CLEAN AND SANITIZE MENTIONED AREA. PRIORITY VIOLATION:7-38-020(A), CITATION ISSUED.
• ⚠️In-Use Utensils: Properly Stored • UTENSILS STORED/HANGING FROM SHELF BESIDE THE HANDWASHING MUST BE RELOCATED DUE TO CLOSE TO SOAP USED FOR HANDWASHING
  In-Use Utensils: Properly Stored • UTENSILS STORED/HANGING FROM SHELF BESIDE THE HANDWASHING MUST BE RELOCATED DUE TO CLOSE TO SOAP USED FOR HANDWASHING
• 🚿plumbing acting up
  Non-Food/Food Contact Surfaces Clean • GRIMES BUILD-UP INSIDE THE DISH MACHINE INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.DELIME UNIT.
• ⚠️Garbage & Refuse Properly Disposed; Facilities Maintained • NO OUTSIDE RECEPTACLES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION:7-38-020(B), CITATION ISSUED.
  Garbage & Refuse Properly Disposed; Facilities Maintained • NO OUTSIDE RECEPTACLES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION:7-38-020(B), CITATION ISSUED.
• 🧹floors, walls, or ceilings grimy
  Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean • REPAIRED FLOOR WITH CEMENT NOT SMOOTH AND ESILY CLEANABLE,REPLACE. • NOTED SOILED MOPS IMPROPERLY STORED (OUTSIDE THE PARKING LOT,PILED ON THE FLOOR) MOP HEADS MUST BE STORED INSIDE THE PREMISES AND HANGED ON WALL. MOPS HEADS MUST BE STORED INVERTED.
• ⚠️Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used • MAST REPAIR NON-WORKING LIGHTS IN KITCHEN AMD INCREASE INTENSITY OF LIGHTNING.
  Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used • MAST REPAIR NON-WORKING LIGHTS IN KITCHEN AMD INCREASE INTENSITY OF LIGHTNING.
• 🥜allergen training missing
  Allergen Training As Required • NO ALLERGEN CERTIFICATE PROVIDED ON SITE, INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE
• ⚠️Previous Core Violation Corrected • PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM 3-2-2021, REPORT #2492326 #4103-304-14 MUST STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN PREP AREAS IN SANITIZER BUCKET BETWEEN USES TO PREVENT CROSS-CONTAMINATION. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN #47)4-101.11(B, C, D, E) MUST NOT USE PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS AS FOOD CONTAINERS INSIDE COOLERS AND FREEZERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE GRADE FOOD CONTAINERS WITH LIDS AND FOOD-GRADE DISPOSABLE BAGS. #47)4-201.11 BROKEN RUBBER GASKET INSIDE ALL COOLERS IN THE KITCHEN, INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE/REPAIR. #48)4-301.12 NOTED LARGE POTS UNABLE TO FIT INSIDE THE DISHWASHING MACHINE OR THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK FOR PROPER WASHING, RINSING, AND SANITIZING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR PROPER WASHING AND TO SANITIZE OF EQUIPMENT OR REMOVE EQUIPMENT. #49)4-602.13 INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF COOKING EQUIPMENT WITH GREASE BUILD-UP CLEAN AND MAINTAIN #51)5-205.15 WATER SPRAYER AT THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK CONTINUOUSLY LEAKING, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR. MUST PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STOPPERS AT THE THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK. #55) 6-201.11 CEILING TILES WITH HOLES AND BUBBLED UP IN THE KITCHEN. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE BROKEN COVING TILES BESIDE THE ICE MACHINE.REPLACE. #55) 6-201.12 GREASE BUILD-UP UNDER AND AROUND COOKING EQUIPMENT, CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN #55)6-201.15 MUST NOT USE CARDBOARD BOXES AS MATTING FOR FLOORS.REMOVE. MATTING MUST BE WASHABLE/CLEANABLE. 57)NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE PROVIDED ON-SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION:7-42-090, NO CITATION ISSUED
  Previous Core Violation Corrected • PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM 3-2-2021, REPORT #2492326 #4103-304-14 MUST STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN PREP AREAS IN SANITIZER BUCKET BETWEEN USES TO PREVENT CROSS-CONTAMINATION. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN #47)4-101.11(B, C, D, E) MUST NOT USE PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS AS FOOD CONTAINERS INSIDE COOLERS AND FREEZERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE GRADE FOOD CONTAINERS WITH LIDS AND FOOD-GRADE DISPOSABLE BAGS. #47)4-201.11 BROKEN RUBBER GASKET INSIDE ALL COOLERS IN THE KITCHEN, INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE/REPAIR. #48)4-301.12 NOTED LARGE POTS UNABLE TO FIT INSIDE THE DISHWASHING MACHINE OR THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK FOR PROPER WASHING, RINSING, AND SANITIZING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR PROPER WASHING AND TO SANITIZE OF EQUIPMENT OR REMOVE EQUIPMENT. #49)4-602.13 INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF COOKING EQUIPMENT WITH GREASE BUILD-UP CLEAN AND MAINTAIN #51)5-205.15 WATER SPRAYER AT THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK CONTINUOUSLY LEAKING, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR. MUST PROVIDE ADDITIONAL STOPPERS AT THE THREE-COMPARTMENT SINK. #55) 6-201.11 CEILING TILES WITH HOLES AND BUBBLED UP IN THE KITCHEN. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE BROKEN COVING TILES BESIDE THE ICE MACHINE.REPLACE. #55) 6-201.12 GREASE BUILD-UP UNDER AND AROUND COOKING EQUIPMENT, CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN #55)6-201.15 MUST NOT USE CARDBOARD BOXES AS MATTING FOR FLOORS.REMOVE. MATTING MUST BE WASHABLE/CLEANABLE. 57)NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE PROVIDED ON-SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION:7-42-090, NO CITATION ISSUED

When was Pho Xe Lua last inspected?

Pho Xe Lua has 23 inspections on record going back to March 31, 2010. The 12 most recent are shown below.

Pho Xe Lua vs Uptown

Uptown runs 62% clean across 725 tracked restaurants — 446 clean, 137 mid, 137 cooked.

Against the 725 spots Cooked tracks in Uptown, this one comes out cleaner than 17% of them.

Other spots in Uptown

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  cooked · December 11, 2012
• ? Ashtown Store
  cooked · December 17, 2019
• ✓ Thrifty Food
  clean · October 10, 2013
• ✓! Siam Cafe,Thai Restaurant
  mid · October 3, 2018
• ✓! Viet Hoa Plaza
  mid · June 23, 2026
• ? Munchies Fast Food J M Inc
  cooked · November 30, 2012

See every restaurant inspection in Uptown →

How Chicago grades restaurants

Chicago does not use letter grades. Every inspection ends in one of three official results: Pass, Pass with Conditions, or Fail. Pass with Conditions means violations were found but corrected on the spot or under a deadline — the restaurant is open, with homework. A Fail means serious violations went uncorrected, and it usually brings a re-inspection within days. Chicago also flags “priority” violations, the ones most likely to actually make someone sick. Cooked reads Pass as clean, Pass with Conditions as mid, and Fail as cooked, and shows the itemized violations behind each result.

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health via Chicago Data Portal. Cooked refreshes this data daily — this listing's most recent inspection is dated July 9, 2021. Inspection results describe one moment in a kitchen's life, not a permanent verdict.